Daniel Grayling Fogelberg, 8/13/1951 - 12/16/2007

As I may have mentioned once or twice on my blog before Dan Fogelberg is my absolute all time favorite musician. Unfortunately, his time on earth was too short, dying this morning at only 56 from prostate cancer. When I read of his passing, I cried copious tears. I am probably not finished crying. Although I've never met him personally somehow I just felt I knew him. Maybe that's because he also grew up in central Illinois. Maybe it's because he also attended the University of Illinois. Maybe it's because we were both raised by music director parents. Maybe it was just because I was in awe of his musical talents, both in performing and composing. Whatever it was, Dan touched me deeply in ways no other musician ever has. I will miss you Dan, and I will always wonder what songs you still had inside you yet to be written when you left us.

Dan Fogelberg in 1975

Dan Fogelberg with his wife Jean in 2003

You want more information on him, visit his official website.

I close this post with the lyrics of one of his songs, not his best known, but it speaks to me right now.

Along The Road

Joy at the start
Fear in the journey
Joy in the coming home
A part of the heart gets lost in the learning
Somewhere along the road
Along the road your path may wander
A pilgrim's faith may fail
Absence makes the heart grow fonder
Darkness obscures the trail
Cursing the quest
Courting disaster
Measureless nights forbode
Moments of rest
Glimpses of laughter
Are treasured along the road
Along the road your steps may stumble
Your thoughts may start to stray
But through it all a heart held humble
Levels and lights your way
Joy at the start
Fear in the journey
Joy in the coming home
A part of the heart gets lost in the learning
Somewhere along the road
Somewhere along the road
Somewhere along the road